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LA Man Sentenced to Death by Lethal Injection for Double Murder at Auto Parts Store in 2011 by Kevin Frey, WAFB
After being found guilty for a 2011 double murder at an auto parts store in Baton Rouge, a judge has sentenced Lee Turner to death by lethal injection. Turner and his attorney were in court Monday and filed a motion for a new trial. The motion for a new trial was denied and the sentencing phase continued. “In my opinion, based on what this person did, this is the only appropriate, just decision,” said East Baton Rouge District Attorney Hillar Moore. In May, Turner was found guilty
Lee Turner Jr. will face death by lethal injection after committing a double murder at CarQuest Auto Parts back in 2011. Credit: East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s Office
of two counts of first-degree murder in the shooting deaths of two men during a robbery at CarQuest Auto Parts on Airline Highway in 2011. A few days later, a jury recommended he be sentenced to death. “This defendant has never accepted responsibility, never
See Sentenced to Death, Page 34
TV News Reports on LA Body Shop Owner Saying State Farm ‘Forces Him’ to Use Recycled Parts by Kiran Chawla, wafb.com
Miles Paint & Body Shop in LA said his customer’s car insurer State Farm is not allowing him to use OEM parts on his 2014 Kia Sedona. Credit: WAFB
they are pushing after-market, or recycled, products. “They force these parts on us. They make us use them. They’ve gotSee State Farm Forces, Page 12
Change Service Requested
P.O. BOX 1516, CARLSBAD, CA 92018
A body shop owner is warning drivers that if you get in a wreck, your car insurance policy might only pay for aftermarket or recycled parts. A 2014 Kia Sedona has been at the Miles Paint & Body Shop in Baton Rouge for three weeks after the driver ran into the back of another vehicle. It now needs a new condenser and radiator, and the front bumper was also damaged. Body shop owner Tim Elkins said the car owner’s insurance, State Farm, is not allowing him to use original replacement parts, but instead
VOL. 33 ISSUE 9 SEPTEMBER 2015
TV News Investigates El Paso Body Shop, Customer Says Shop Has Kept Car for Almost Two Years A customer is claiming Magic Auto Collision in central El Paso took his money but has yet to complete the customizations on his car in a year and a half, according to broadcast reports by KFOX14. Samuel Mitchell said he paid $10,000 to Magic Auto Collision upfront in cash for custom paint, upholstery and a glass cut-out sunroof. He was told it would take three to four months to complete back in Apr. 18, 2014. “I asked them if it would be done in that time, they told me ‘yes’,” Mitchell said. “Now it’s almost two years later and I haven’t received my car. All they do is push it in and out of the garage.” Mitchell said the owner of Magic
Auto Collision, Juan Leanos told him the custom job would take a few months. KFOX14 tried to contact Leanos but he refused to comment—but Leanos said his shop painted Mitchell’s car. But Mitchell claims the job isn’t finished because his car’s interior is torn apart with no seats and his sunroof isn’t installed. He also claims parts of his car are missing in the shop. “Half of my parts are in the shop and they don’t know where they’re at,” Mitchell said. “They want me to go to the junkyard for more seats to buy, but I gave them my original seats with my car to get customized.” Mitchell said his car has received scratches and other damage from the
Given that more than 30 million vehicles are affected by the massive air bag recall, a few local vehicles may not seem noteworthy, but for a Sheriff’s department the recall is taking a toll. Included in the 30 million are 2005 to 2010 Dodge Chargers in use by many law enforcement departments across the United States. Texas law enforcement vehicles have not been spared the recall, according to TV reports by Dallas’ NBC5. Ten Ellis County Sheriff’s Department vehicles are not currently being used after Sheriff Johnny Brown ordered them out of service when he learned they fall under the massive nationwide recall of defective Takata airbags that when deployed can rupture internally with too much force and send metal fragments flying into the cabin of the vehicle. “We made the decision at the time to park all our 2010 units,” said Lt. James Saulter. “We don’t want a deputy getting hurt or somebody that’s been arrested getting hit with
flying fragments, as well as we have folks that ride out with us, and we didn’t want anybody getting hurt.” Saulter said the department was notified the parts to take care of the recall were not available. “It’s a huge impact,” Saulter said. “But we definitely want our citizens to know it’s not going to impact us being able to answer calls or take care of them.” NBC 5 reached out to Fiat Chrysler Automobiles and was told the parts are now en route to Ellis County and service for those units is imminent. “Customer safety is a top priority at FCA US LLC. Accordingly, we are executing this recall campaign in the most expeditious manner possible, keeping NHTSA fully apprised of our progress,” said a statement from the company. With safety concerns looming, some departments immediately started repairs when the parts were available, including both Irving and Dallas police departments.
See El Paso Shop Dispute, Page 10
Texas Law Enforcement Vehicles Hard Hit by Takata Airbag Recall Say TV News Reports
See Texas Law Vehicles, Page 6
Presorted Standard US Postage PAID San Bernardino, CA Permit #2244